B.C. motel owner arrested in prostitution raid

A Battle Creek motel owner arrested Thursday is facing up to 20 years on prostitution charges.

Mehul Patel, 30, was arraigned Friday on charges of accepting earnings from prostitution and keeping a house of prostitution.

He was arrested Tuesday after officers from the Batte Creek Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Michigan Department of Corrections executed search warrants at the Rodeway Inn at 4786 Beckley Road about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Patel was arrested and officers removed several bags of evidence and computers.

Police then went to a Super 8 Motel in Coldwater also owned by Patel and executed search warrants there.

On Friday, Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert said search warrants seeking records were executed at two banks.

Police on Thursday and Gilbert on Friday said that in addition to the charges filed against Patel, the investigation also includes fraud. Officials would not disclose further information.

At an arraignment in Calhoun County District Court, attorney Aaron Bartell of Marshall argued for a low bond, saying his client had no criminal record and has a wife and child and other family members in the area, so he is not a flight risk.

Bartell said Patel has lived in Battle Creek three years.

Magistrate David Heiss set bond at $10,000 but said Patel only has to pay 10 percent or $1,000 to be released. A preliminary examination is set for Nov. 20 before District Judge Samuel Durham.

Bartell declined comment after the hearing.

Contact Trace Christenson at 966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson.